Umbrella canopy accessory

ABSTRACT

An umbrella canopy accessory includes a flexible sidewall and a cap crowning the sidewall. The cap has an aperture of diameter smaller than that of the sidewall, enabling the crown to be rested on top of an umbrella, such that the sidewall is suspended from the umbrella and creates an enclosure in which a user can stand. The sidewall is bifurcated vertically, such that a user may pass through the bifurcation to pass into and out of the canopy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/676,825 filed May 25, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of outdoor enclosures of existing art and more specifically relates to an umbrella canopy accessory.

Related Art

Most beaches don't offer any protection or shade from the sun, leaving many beachgoers burnt and uncomfortable after only a short amount of time. Therefore, many people tote a beach umbrella to their favorite spot, but these umbrellas don't provide coverage from all angles, don't offer any privacy on the sides, and leave things like personal belongings and food exposed to heat, gusts of wind, blowing sand, insects, and more. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,603,423 to Sharon Skobeleva relates to a netting enclosure for an umbrella. The described netting enclosure for an umbrella includes an adjustable, removable mesh canopy is adapted to fit umbrellas and parasols while providing a barrier to mosquitoes and other insects. A removable weight may be affixed to the bottom of the net to keep the net flush with the ground during movement and wind and to inhibit insect entry into the enclosed space. The top includes an adjustable drawstring opening which can be adjusted to fit umbrellas or parasols that vary in diameter. A closed seam runs down the side, and a resealable opening may be installed on the side of the net so that a user can temporarily extend a hand outside of the net through the opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known outdoor enclosure art, the present disclosure provides a novel umbrella canopy accessory. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an umbrella canopy accessory.

An umbrella canopy accessory includes a flexible sidewall and a cap crowning the sidewall. The cap has an aperture of diameter smaller than that of the sidewall, enabling the crown to be rested on top of an umbrella, such that the sidewall is suspended from the umbrella and creates an enclosure in which a user can stand. The cap is further defined by a circular perimeter which is larger than the aperture. The sidewall has a top edge and a bottom edge, and is bifurcated vertically, such that a user may pass through the bifurcation to pass into and out of the canopy.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an umbrella canopy accessory, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the umbrella canopy accessory during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an outdoor enclosure and more particularly to an umbrella canopy accessory as used to improve the privacy and protection of an individual standing under an umbrella.

The umbrella canopy may be marketed under a tradename such as “Sunbrella Sun Cover”. This innovative product features a drape covering for traditional beach umbrellas. The drape can be made from parachute like material, lightweight canvas or tight mesh or other suitable material that affords privacy while still providing air flow. Additionally, on the front of the drape, from the top to the bottom there is a splice that acts as an opening. Ties can secure the opening together if desired or tied to the sides for a larger opening. Three additional rectangular mesh openings near the bottom can provide ventilation throughout. Further, approximately five brightly colored, easy to locate metal stakes can be inserted thru loops on the bottom of the drape and pushed into the sand. The drape can be offered in assorted sizes to accommodate a wide range of beach umbrellas currently on the market.

Generally, the umbrella canopy accessory provides covered protection from the sun's harmful rays and wind. Additionally, the accessory affords greater privacy for a user than traditional umbrellas do alone. The accessory can aid in preventing sunburns and in protecting individuals from gusts of sandy winds while also protecting food and personal belongings from bugs, insects, and other contamination. The accessory includes openings to promote airflow for relief and comfort from hot temperatures. The accessory is lightweight for easy transportation to any spot on the beach. Essentially, the accessory utilizes a drape covering for traditional beach umbrellas. The drape can be made from parachute-like material, lightweight canvas, or tight mesh or other suitable material that affords privacy while still promoting airflow. The top of the drape is a cap that sits on the umbrella. In the center of the cap is a circular opening for placing on top of a beach umbrella, allowing the rest of the drape is a sidewall which can loosely hang down the side around the umbrella. Additionally, on the front of the drape, from the top to the bottom, can be a split that acts as an opening. Ties can secure the opening together if desired. Alternatively, the ties can be used to hold the sidewall folded against itself for a larger opening. Three additional rectangular mesh openings near the bottom can provide ventilation throughout. Further, approximately five brightly colored, easy-to-locate metal stakes can be inserted through loops on the bottom of the drape and pushed into the sand. The drape can be offered in assorted sizes to accommodate a wide range of beach umbrellas currently on the market. The exact specifications may vary upon manufacturing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a canopy 100.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of canopy 100. Canopy 100 may be able to cover and be suspended from umbrella 10. Canopy 100 may include sidewall 110, circular cap 120 crowing sidewall 110, aperture 130 perforating circular cap 120, and bifurcation 140 dividing sidewall 110 from top to bottom. Bifurcation 140 may serve as a doorway when canopy 100 is suspended from umbrella 10 so that a user can pass through bifurcation 140 into and out of canopy 100. Preferably, sidewall 110 is around as high as a human being or taller, so that canopy 100 envelops one or more users standing underneath the umbrella 10 which canopy 100 is suspended from.

Sidewall 110 may itself have top edge 112 and bottom edge 114. Circular cap 120 may have external perimeter 122. Perimeter 122 may be affixed to top edge 112 of sidewall 110, may be circular in shape (as it circumscribes and defines the boundaries of circular cap 120), and may be itself defined by a fixed perimeter-diameter 124. Aperture 130 may perforate circular cap 120 and may be positioned concentrically to perimeter 122 of circular cap 120. Aperture 130 may itself be defined by a fixed aperture-diameter 132, such that aperture-diameter 132 is smaller than perimeter-diameter 124. In this way, circular cap 120 defines a shelf-like structure which restricts the effective diameter of sidewall 110, such that circular cap 120 rests on top of umbrella 10, and sidewall 110 circumscribes and descends from umbrella 10. Bifurcation 140 may divide sidewall 110 from top edge 112 to bottom edge 114.

In some embodiments, other features may be added. For example, canopy 100 may further include fabric ties 150. Fabric ties 150 may be disposed on either side of bifurcation 140, thereby enabling a user to secure bifurcation 140 closed. Additionally, canopy 100 may further include vents 160 disposed within sidewall 110 enabling the airflow to pass through sidewall 110. Vents 160 may be a rigid grate, a fabric mesh which is broader than that of sidewall 110, or similar structures which promote airflow through vents 160 better than through sidewall 110. Preferably, three of vents 160 may be used. Additionally, canopy 100 may further include viewing ports 170 disposed within sidewall 110 enabling a user to view clearly through the viewing ports. Viewing ports 170 may be windows formed by opening a flap of sidewall 110 or other openable structures. Additionally, canopy 100 may further include stakes 180 and stake ties 190. Stake ties 190 may be affixed to bottom edge 114 of sidewall 110, and stakes 180 may be metal stakes which able to pass through stake ties 190 into the ground in order to secure sidewall 110 to the ground. Stake ties 190 may be closed fabric loops or apertures within sidewall 110 proximate to bottom edge 114. In various embodiments, various materials may be utilized. For example, sidewall 110 and circular cap 120 may each comprise nylon fabric, silk fabric, canvas, a semitranslucent fabric mesh, a UV-resistant material, or a combination thereof.

Sidewall 110 may be substantially rectangular in shape, such that top edge 112 and bottom edge 114 are substantially parallel, and bifurcation 140 is further defined by right edge 116 and left edge 118. Accordingly, right edge 116 and the left edge 118 may be each substantially perpendicular to each of top edge 112 and bottom edge 114. Thusly, the described rectangular shape is completed by the combination of top edge 112, bottom edge 114, right edge 116, and left edge 118, which are arranged perpendicularly to each other when sidewall 110 is laid flat and taut. Preferably, top edge 112 of sidewall 110 and bottom edge 114 of sidewall 110 are separated by at least thirty-six inches; the height of sidewall 110 should be sufficient to enable a human being to stand under umbrella 10 and be enveloped by canopy 100 when canopy 100 is suspended from umbrella 10.

For the purposes of this specification, the terms “perimeter-diameter” and “aperture-diameter” refer to the diameter of these flexible structures when the structure, fabric, mesh, or material in question is substantially taut. For example, in one embodiment, the aperture-diameter may measure twelve inches across when it is resting taut over the canopy of an umbrella. This is the configuration whereby “aperture-diameter” is defined, even though the effective size of the aperture may reduce when the device is folded, crumpled, or otherwise manipulated, given that the structure in preferred embodiments is flexible. In the case of the relationship between the perimeter and the aperture of the disclosed device, it is important that the aperture-diameter is smaller than the perimeter-diameter. Importantly, this solution allows the disclosed device to be more easily and more efficiently draped over an umbrella compared to prior art solutions, which may require drawstrings, ties, or other fasteners to secure a flexible medium over the top of an umbrella canopy.

Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other structural arrangements such as, for example, additional structural features, alternative fasteners, ornamental designs, fringe shapes, etc., may be sufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A canopy able to cover and be suspended from an umbrella, the canopy comprising: a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a circular cap having an external perimeter, the perimeter being affixed to the top edge of the sidewall, the perimeter having a fixed perimeter-diameter; an aperture perforating the circular cap, the aperture being concentric to the perimeter of the circular cap, the aperture having a fixed aperture-diameter, the aperture-diameter being smaller than the perimeter-diameter; and a bifurcation dividing the sidewall from the top edge to the bottom edge.
 2. The canopy of claim 1, further comprising ties which are disposed on either side of the bifurcation enabling a user to secure the bifurcation closed.
 3. The canopy of claim 1, further comprising vents disposed within the sidewall enabling airflow to pass through the sidewall.
 4. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the vents consist of three vents.
 5. The canopy of claim 1, further comprising viewing ports disposed within the sidewall enabling a user to view clearly through the viewing ports.
 6. The canopy of claim 1, further comprising stakes and stake ties, the stake ties being affixed to the bottom edge of the sidewall, and the stakes being able to pass through the stake ties into the ground in order to secure the sidewall to the ground.
 7. The canopy of claim 1, wherein each of the stake ties comprises a closed fabric loop affixed to the bottom edge of the sidewall.
 8. The canopy of claim 1, wherein each of the stake ties comprises an aperture in the sidewall disposed proximate to the bottom edge of the sidewall.
 9. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the rectangular sidewall and the circular cap each comprise nylon fabric.
 10. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the rectangular sidewall and the circular cap each comprise silk fabric.
 11. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the rectangular sidewall and the circular cap each comprise canvas.
 12. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the rectangular sidewall and the circular cap each comprise a semitranslucent fabric mesh.
 13. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the rectangular sidewall and the circular cap each comprise a UV-resistant material.
 14. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is substantially rectangular in shape, such that the top edge and the bottom edge are substantially parallel, and the bifurcation is further defined by a right edge and a left edge, such that the right edge and the left edge are each substantially perpendicular to each of the top edge and the bottom edge.
 15. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the top edge of the sidewall and the bottom edge of the sidewall are separated by at least thirty-six inches.
 16. An umbrella canopy accessory able to cover and be suspended from an umbrella, the umbrella canopy accessory comprising: a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a circular cap having an external perimeter, the perimeter being affixed to the top edge of the sidewall, the perimeter having a fixed perimeter-diameter; an aperture perforating the circular cap, the aperture being concentric to the perimeter of the circular cap, the aperture having a fixed aperture-diameter, the aperture-diameter being smaller than the perimeter-diameter; and a bifurcation dividing the sidewall from the top edge to the bottom edge; further comprising fabric ties which are disposed on either side of the bifurcation enabling a user to secure the bifurcation closed; further comprising vents disposed within the sidewall enabling airflow to pass through the sidewall; wherein the vents consist of three vents; wherein the rectangular sidewall and the circular cap each comprise a semitranslucent fabric mesh; and wherein the sidewall is substantially rectangular in shape, such that the top edge and the bottom edge are substantially parallel, and the bifurcation is further defined by a right edge and a left edge, such that the right edge and the left edge are each substantially perpendicular to each of the top edge and the bottom edge.
 17. An umbrella canopy accessory able to cover and be suspended from an umbrella, the umbrella canopy accessory comprising: a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a circular cap having an external perimeter, the perimeter being affixed to the top edge of the sidewall, the perimeter having a fixed perimeter-diameter; an aperture perforating the circular cap, the aperture being concentric to the perimeter of the circular cap, the aperture having a fixed aperture-diameter, the aperture-diameter being smaller than the perimeter-diameter; and a bifurcation dividing the sidewall from the top edge to the bottom edge; further comprising ties which are disposed on either side of the bifurcation enabling a user to secure the bifurcation closed; further comprising vents disposed within the sidewall enabling airflow to pass through the sidewall; wherein the vents consist of three vents; further comprising viewing ports disposed within the sidewall enabling a user to view clearly through the viewing ports; further comprising stakes and stake ties, the stake ties being affixed to the bottom edge of the sidewall, and the stakes being able to pass through the stake ties into the ground in order to secure the sidewall to the ground; wherein each of the stake ties comprises a closed fabric loop affixed to the bottom edge of the sidewall; wherein the rectangular sidewall and the circular cap each comprise a semitranslucent fabric mesh; wherein the sidewall is substantially rectangular in shape, such that the top edge and the bottom edge are substantially parallel, and the bifurcation is further defined by a right edge and a left edge, such that the right edge and the left edge are each substantially perpendicular to each of the top edge and the bottom edge; and wherein the top edge of the sidewall and the bottom edge of the sidewall are separated by at least thirty-six inches. 